1
HESI RN Health Assessment Exam V2
(2025/2026) – Verified Questions with
100% Correct Answers & Rationales |
BSN 246 Latest A+
1. A nurse is assessing a patient’s respiratory rate. What is the normal range for an adult at
rest?
a) 8–12 breaths per minute
b) 12–20 breaths per minute
c) 20–28 breaths per minute
d) 28–36 breaths per minute
Rationale: The normal respiratory rate for a healthy adult at rest is 12–20 breaths per
minute. Rates outside this range may indicate respiratory distress or underlying
conditions.
2. During a head-to-toe assessment, a nurse palpates a patient’s abdomen. What finding
requires immediate reporting?
a) Soft, non-tender abdomen
b) Rigid, board-like abdomen
c) Mild bloating
d) Normal bowel sounds
Rationale: A rigid, board-like abdomen suggests peritonitis or internal bleeding, a
medical emergency requiring immediate provider notification.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient’s cranial nerve II. Which test should be performed?
a) Weber test
b) Snellen chart test
c) Romberg test
d) Gag reflex test
Rationale: Cranial nerve II (optic nerve) is assessed using the Snellen chart to evaluate
visual acuity.
4. A patient reports chest pain during a cardiovascular assessment. What should the nurse
ask first?
a) Have you eaten recently?
b) Can you describe the pain?
c) Are you taking any medications?
d) Do you have a family history of heart disease?
Rationale: Describing the pain (onset, location, duration, quality) helps determine its
etiology (e.g., cardiac, musculoskeletal) and guides urgent clinical decisions.
5. A nurse is assessing a patient’s peripheral pulses. Which pulse is palpated at the wrist?
a) Femoral
b) Radial
c) Popliteal
, 2
d) Dorsalis pedis
Rationale: The radial pulse, located at the wrist, is commonly assessed to evaluate
peripheral circulation and heart rate.
6. During a skin assessment, a nurse notes a lesion with irregular borders and multiple
colors. What should the nurse do?
a) Document as a benign mole
b) Report to the provider
c) Apply a bandage
d) Cleanse with antiseptic
Rationale: Irregular borders and multiple colors in a lesion suggest possible melanoma,
requiring immediate provider evaluation.
7. A nurse is performing an otoscopic examination. What is the expected appearance of a
healthy tympanic membrane?
a) Red and inflamed
b) Pearly white and cone-shaped
c) Bulging with fluid
d) Dull and retracted
Rationale: A healthy tympanic membrane is pearly white, cone-shaped, and reflects
light, indicating no infection or fluid buildup.
8. A patient with shortness of breath is assessed. Which finding indicates respiratory
distress?
a) Respiratory rate 16 breaths/min
b) Use of accessory muscles
c) Clear lung sounds
d) Oxygen saturation 95%
Rationale: Use of accessory muscles (e.g., neck, shoulders) indicates increased work of
breathing, a sign of respiratory distress.
9. A nurse is assessing a patient’s deep tendon reflexes. What is the expected response for
the patellar reflex?
a) No movement
b) Knee extension
c) Knee flexion
d) Ankle dorsiflexion
Rationale: The patellar reflex, tested by striking the patellar tendon, should cause knee
extension in a healthy individual.
10. A nurse is performing a cardiac assessment and hears a murmur. What should the nurse
do next?
a) Administer oxygen
b) Document and report to the provider
c) Check blood glucose
d) Apply a warm compress
Rationale: A murmur may indicate a cardiac abnormality (e.g., valve dysfunction),
requiring documentation and provider evaluation.
11. During a neurological assessment, a nurse tests cranial nerve XII. Which action should
the patient perform?
a) Smile symmetrically
HESI RN Health Assessment Exam V2
(2025/2026) – Verified Questions with
100% Correct Answers & Rationales |
BSN 246 Latest A+
1. A nurse is assessing a patient’s respiratory rate. What is the normal range for an adult at
rest?
a) 8–12 breaths per minute
b) 12–20 breaths per minute
c) 20–28 breaths per minute
d) 28–36 breaths per minute
Rationale: The normal respiratory rate for a healthy adult at rest is 12–20 breaths per
minute. Rates outside this range may indicate respiratory distress or underlying
conditions.
2. During a head-to-toe assessment, a nurse palpates a patient’s abdomen. What finding
requires immediate reporting?
a) Soft, non-tender abdomen
b) Rigid, board-like abdomen
c) Mild bloating
d) Normal bowel sounds
Rationale: A rigid, board-like abdomen suggests peritonitis or internal bleeding, a
medical emergency requiring immediate provider notification.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient’s cranial nerve II. Which test should be performed?
a) Weber test
b) Snellen chart test
c) Romberg test
d) Gag reflex test
Rationale: Cranial nerve II (optic nerve) is assessed using the Snellen chart to evaluate
visual acuity.
4. A patient reports chest pain during a cardiovascular assessment. What should the nurse
ask first?
a) Have you eaten recently?
b) Can you describe the pain?
c) Are you taking any medications?
d) Do you have a family history of heart disease?
Rationale: Describing the pain (onset, location, duration, quality) helps determine its
etiology (e.g., cardiac, musculoskeletal) and guides urgent clinical decisions.
5. A nurse is assessing a patient’s peripheral pulses. Which pulse is palpated at the wrist?
a) Femoral
b) Radial
c) Popliteal
, 2
d) Dorsalis pedis
Rationale: The radial pulse, located at the wrist, is commonly assessed to evaluate
peripheral circulation and heart rate.
6. During a skin assessment, a nurse notes a lesion with irregular borders and multiple
colors. What should the nurse do?
a) Document as a benign mole
b) Report to the provider
c) Apply a bandage
d) Cleanse with antiseptic
Rationale: Irregular borders and multiple colors in a lesion suggest possible melanoma,
requiring immediate provider evaluation.
7. A nurse is performing an otoscopic examination. What is the expected appearance of a
healthy tympanic membrane?
a) Red and inflamed
b) Pearly white and cone-shaped
c) Bulging with fluid
d) Dull and retracted
Rationale: A healthy tympanic membrane is pearly white, cone-shaped, and reflects
light, indicating no infection or fluid buildup.
8. A patient with shortness of breath is assessed. Which finding indicates respiratory
distress?
a) Respiratory rate 16 breaths/min
b) Use of accessory muscles
c) Clear lung sounds
d) Oxygen saturation 95%
Rationale: Use of accessory muscles (e.g., neck, shoulders) indicates increased work of
breathing, a sign of respiratory distress.
9. A nurse is assessing a patient’s deep tendon reflexes. What is the expected response for
the patellar reflex?
a) No movement
b) Knee extension
c) Knee flexion
d) Ankle dorsiflexion
Rationale: The patellar reflex, tested by striking the patellar tendon, should cause knee
extension in a healthy individual.
10. A nurse is performing a cardiac assessment and hears a murmur. What should the nurse
do next?
a) Administer oxygen
b) Document and report to the provider
c) Check blood glucose
d) Apply a warm compress
Rationale: A murmur may indicate a cardiac abnormality (e.g., valve dysfunction),
requiring documentation and provider evaluation.
11. During a neurological assessment, a nurse tests cranial nerve XII. Which action should
the patient perform?
a) Smile symmetrically
